MEADS Proves It Can Deliver

Missile Defense System Takes Down Two Threats at Once in Critical Test

When in harm’s way, troops need air and missile defense that protects in every direction.

Imagine an enemy missile heading toward their airbase. And another incoming from a different direction. Time is critical. There may be other threats in the vicinity. Forces need to coordinate a response with ground troops and air forces while keeping troops safe.

International Partnership to Protect Allied Forces
As a partner in MEADS International, Lockheed Martin is collaborating with MBDA Italia and MBDA Deutschland to develop a new generation of air and missile defense that can protect NATO forces, bases, and population centers in ways that older Cold War systems can’t.

MEADS combines launchers and radars that can see and protect against attack from any direction. Each piece is lighter and smaller so the system can be driven onto aircraft to quickly arrive at trouble spots and go to work. The pieces are also network-enabled, to continue to protect forces as they move. And, they’re truck-mounted to quickly drive over land when landing sites are far away.

Rigorous Tests Prove Real Results
MEADS has been flight tested three times at White Sands Missile Range. Each time, it’s raised the bar. In 2011, it launched a PAC-3 MSE Missile to a point behind the launcher. In 2012, using information from a 360-degree MEADS radar, it destroyed a drone aircraft attacking from behind. Now, MEADS has demonstrated two target intercepts – a tactical ballistic missile in front and an aircraft behind – at the same time.

“No fielded ground‐mobile AMD System can intercept targets from two directions at the same time, as MEADS did today,” said NATO MEADS Management Agency General Manager Gregory Kee. “MEADS technology can now be leveraged as mature, network-ready battle management, sensors and launchers to achieve the networked AMD capabilities envisioned by Germany, Italy and the United States.”

Posted on November 7, 2013

MEADS Dual Intercept Flight Test 02

The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) intercepted and destroyed two simultaneous targets attacking from opposite directions during a stressing demonstration of its 360-degree air and missile defense (AMD) capabilities at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The flight test achieved all criteria for success. Learn more at www.meads-amd.com.